Back for revenge: Nawaz Sharif, the ex-premier kicked out by Pakistan's President Musharraf

Nawaz Sharif, who was overthrown by General Musharraf in a bloodless coup eight years ago, said he was determined to rid the country of dictatorship.

"We want democracy and nothing else," Mr Sharif declared on arriving back in his hometown Lahore from exile in Saudi Arabia.

"I am here to play my role and also make my own efforts to rid the country of dictatorship."

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Thousands lined the road from the airport, cheering and beating drums to welcome Sharif, who arrived with his wife Kulsoom and politician brother Shahbaz Sharif, a fellow exile, on a jet provided by the Saudi monarch.

Mr Sharif waved as he addressed a throng of wellwishers from on top of a car outside the building, while his brother was carried on the crowd's shoulders to a waiting vehicle.

General Musharraf imposed emergency rule on November 3 to safeguard his presidency but, under pressure from Saudi's King Abdullah, he reluctantly acquiesced to Mr Sharif's return.

Mr Sharif will lead his party in a January 8 general election, if he decides against boycotting a poll that most people think will be neither free nor fair.

Western governments fear that stifling democracy could benefit Islamist militants threatening nuclear-armed Pakistan.

Hundreds of wellwishers managed to breach the security cordon at the airport, although police carrying riot shields, batons and rifles had been deployed.

Mr Sharif's supporters clapped and danced in the terminal as they waved portraits, placards and party flags.

Thousands had been detained before his arrival, according to party loyalists. "I have no lust for any post or power," Mr Sharif said, mopping his brow, and dressed in traditional white shalwar kameez and black waistcoat.

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"I didn't come for this, I came to serve the people and save Pakistan," he said before being carried aloft by supporters to another car roof.

Mounting insecurity in Pakistan was underscored by two suicide attacks in Rawalpindi, the garrison town next to the capital Islamabad, on Saturday.

The attacks killed at least 15, military spokesman Major-General Waheed Arshad confirmed yesterday, although some media reported it was more than 30.

Suicide bombers attacked the motorcade of another former premier, Benazir Bhutto, when General Musharraf allowed her to return last month in the hope that she would become an ally. At least 139 people were killed.

Mr Sharif plans to discuss a possible boycott of the parliamentary election with the other main opposition party, led by Miss Bhutto.

Unpopular and politically isolated, General Musharraf now has to contend with two rivals he has spent much of the last eight years trying to marginalise.